Wednesday Poetry inspired by Mini Lesson Writing

I am knee deep in writing a 5th grade poetry unit.  With luck, I had some resources to support the unit's development, another coaching friend gave me their 5th grade collaborative planning unit and the If/ Then curriculum in the Lucy Calkins 5th grade writing resources has some good suggestions for teaching points.   On top of this, nowadays, there are a number of great websites dedicated to poetry on top of the plethora of books you can find in your schools library, making resources accessible and ready to connect to teaching points. 

• Poets.org 
• Poem Farm
• Poetryforkids
• Poetry Foundation

One of the lessons I wrote was under the teaching point: Poems can and usually evoke strong emotions. 

The teaching is planned to go as: 

Teaching: 

Start by studying a Prelutsky poem: I made a noise this morning

After you read, think aloud. 

• Poems evoke strong emotions.  Which one does this evoke?  
• Poets use words to convey emotions. Which ones show (emotion name?)
• Poets use craft moves to convey emotions.  What does the poet use to convey these emotions? 

Name and notice.  

Then, approach the lesson as a writer.  

1. Scan your notebook identifying patches of feelings and emotions- nostalgia
2. Select a topic that you may have a certain emotion around -summer camp nights
3. Brainstorm precise words that go with that emotion and topic -fireflies, the lingering smell of campfire and mosquito spray, the taste of burnt marshmallows always on my mind, the joy of rolling down the hill in tire tubes hair flying in the air, the agony of swim class and ice cold, bone chilling water
4. Brainstorm craft moves: the line breaks should be soft, no need for rhyme, maybe repetition to show how the memories are joyful ones 
5. Write a poem/ Share one you wrote

Today's poem is inspired by this mini-lesson.

Summer Camp Nights

Fireflies glow

Intermittently

Piercing the dark sapphire

Blue sky

Marshmallows roast

Sparking 

Embers dancing in the fire

Blackening

Heads tumble

Fluttering 

Hair flops up and down

Spiraling

Threads weave

Uniting

Colors, friends and

Memories 

Abyssal water

Chilling 

Limbs floating free

Tranquility

Laughter permeates

Bunk bed 

Corners, pillow talk

Joy

#SOL20 #day4